Summary of Colossians

Subjects: Lead lives worthy of the
Lord, Be mature in Christ, Disregard worldly wisdom, Put to death
sinful behavior, Replace bad behavior with righteous behavior, etc.

Chapters: 4

Summary of Colossians 1

Paul introduces himself and Timothy to
the audience, telling them how thankful he is to hear of their faith
in Jesus Christ. He says he has been praying for them "so that
you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you
bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of
God." (Colossians 1:10)

Paul provides a theology of Jesus
Christ, saying that he is the image of the invisible Father.

Through
Jesus Christ and for Jesus Christ, everything was created, and he is
both the firstborn of creation and the head of the church (that is,
God's people), and it is through Jesus Christ that the world is
reconciled.

Paul tells them that Jesus died so that
he can "present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before
him," but Paul warns them "provided that you continue
securely established and steadfast in the faith." (Colossians
1:22-23)

Paul speaks of his suffering, comparing
the purpose of his suffering to the suffering of Jesus Christ,
saying, "I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in
my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for
the sake of his body, that is, the church." (Colossians 1:24)

Paul
speaks of this subject in Philippians as well, saying that his
imprisonment has "helped to spread the gospel." (Philippians
1:12) He also says, "For he has graciously granted you the
privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him
as well," (Philippians 1:29) as well as "I want to know Christ
and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings
by becoming like him in his death." (Philippians 3:10)

Summary of Colossians 2

Paul continues to express his desire
for his audience to be strengthened in the faith, in order to become
"mature in Christ" as he says in Colossians 1:28.

Paul is urging his audience to avoid
being deceived by false teachers, with their deceptive philosophies
and beliefs. In context, Paul begins to explain what he means by the
philosophy, plausible arguments, and deceit of human tradition.

Paul first reveals that he is speaking
partially of human regulations and traditions in Colossians 2:16-22.
He then reveals that he is also speaking of sinning in Colossians
3:5-9, when he says, "Set your minds on things that are above,
not on things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:2) and then he
gives a list of sins in Colossians 3:5-9 that they must "put to
death."

Water Baptism and Spiritual Circumcision

In Colossians 2:11-14, Paul describes
the spiritual circumcision that he has spoken of in his other letters, such
as Romans 2:29, "Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and
real circumcision is a matter of the heart—it is spiritual and not
literal."

Paul also explains that physical circumcision doesn't
matter in regards to salvation, saying, "Circumcision is
nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but obeying the commandments
of God is everything." (Corinthians 7:19)

Paul makes the
connection clear that obeying God's commandments is what makes us
spiritually circumcised (meaning salvation, since circumcision was
the representative sign that a male was under the law), "So, if
those who are uncircumcised keep the requirements of the law, will
not their uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?" (Romans
2:26)

Paul is saying that even if someone is not physically
circumcised that their obedience to God's law makes them spiritually
circumcised.

Since physical circumcision is what
represented that a male was under God's law, Paul is explaining that
what actually places us in God's kingdom is obeying his commandments,
which Paul calls spiritual circumcision.

In Colossians 2:11-14, Paul describes
this spiritual event of "spiritual circumcision,"
explaining that water baptism is meant to represent it, which he
explains in Romans 2 occurs due to obedience to God's commandments:
"So, if those who are [physically] uncircumcised keep the
requirements of the law, will not their [physical] uncircumcision be
regarded as [spiritual] circumcision?" (Romans 2:26)

Water baptism also represents a spiritual baptism by God's Holy Spirit.

As Peter says, "and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also - not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:21 NIV)

"Peter said to them, 'Repent, and
be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your
sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit.'" (Acts 2:38)

And John the Baptist says, "I have baptized you with water; but [Jesus Christ] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." (Mark 1:8)

Summary of Water Baptism and Spiritual Circumcision

According to Paul, true circumcision is spiritual (Romans 2:29) and the only thing that truly matters is obedience to God's commandments (Romans 2:26; 1 Corinthians 7:19).

Paul says that a person is a true Jew (God's people) based on obedience to his commandments (Romans 2:26,29).

Water Baptism symbolizes a person's decision to repent of sin and return to obeying God, resulting in baptism by the Holy Spirit and spiritual circumcision (Colossians 2:11-14; 1 Peter 3:21).

Spiritual circumcision and baptism by the Holy Spirit are based on "the pledge of a good conscience towards God" (1 Peter 3:21) and obedience to God's commandments (Romans 2:26,29).

Paul says to avoid being deceived by
those who focus on worshiping angels or "dwelling on visions"
instead of keeping their focus on Jesus Christ "and not holding
fast to the head (Christ)" (Colossians 2:18-19)

Paul explains
that the teachings of false religions are just the made up teachings
of humans and should not be recognized as authoritative commands.

Summary of Colossians 3

Paul teaches his audience to
essentially revolve their worldview around Jesus Christ, instead of
the teachings of the world.

In context, he is speaking specifically
of sinning when he tells them to focus on Christ and to rid
themselves of the world's wisdom, as he mentions in Colossians 3:5-9.

Paul says to, "Put to death,
therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity,
passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry)," and he
makes it clear that "On account of these the wrath of God is
coming on those who are disobedient." (Colossians 3:5-6)

He continues, instructing them that
they must rid themselves of "anger, wrath, malice, slander, and
abusive language from your mouth [and lying]." (Colossians
3:8-9) Paul is plainly telling his audience that no person who does
these sinful things will be saved. They must repent and return to
obeying God, which is the evidence of a true faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul also states this fact plainly in
most of his letters, such as Titus 1:16 "They profess to know
God, but they deny him by their actions." James too agrees that
faith must be supported by actions, or else it's dead, in James 2:17
"So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead." (James
connects "works" to obedience to God's commandments in James 2:8-12).

Paul then instructs his audience of
what to do, saying, "clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, meekness, and patience." (Colossians 3:12)

He then gives specific examples of how to behave for husbands, wives,
children, slaves, masters, etc.

Summary of Colossians 4

As Paul is ending his letter, he
continues his instructions, informing his audience that he is in
prison and asking them for prayer. He tells them, “Remember my
chains. Grace be with you,” in conclusion.

Concluding Summary of Colossians

Paul's letter to the Christians in
Colossae in largely a letter urging his audience to repent of sinful
behavior and to disregard the teachings of the world.

He urges them
to instead follow the teachings of Christ and to replace any sinful
behavior with righteousness.

The main subjects that Paul covers in Colossians
are: Lead lives worthy of the Lord, Be mature in Christ, Disregard
worldly wisdom, Put to death sinful behavior, Replace bad behavior
with righteous behavior, etc.